6 Keys For Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning and the Broncos will be one angry bunch when they roll into Oakland. After getting hammered by the Patriots last week, Denver is going to be looking to to get back on track. Manning will undoubtedly be looking to get the Broncos off to a fast start and will come out throwing the ball all over the field. Oakland can't afford to fall behind big early and will need to game plan accordingly. The defense MUST be ready to roll.

New England beat Denver so convincingly in part because the defense kept Manning on his heels the whole game. They threw blitzes from everywhere, hitting him early and often. They never let Manning establish a rhythm and kept him guessing all game long. If they hope to beat the Broncos, the Raiders are going to have to duplicate that defensive game plan. They need to play smart and be in Manning's face all day.

The simplest way for the Raiders to beat the Broncos will be to keep the ball out of Peyton Manning's hands. To do that, they must establish the run game early and ride it the whole game. Rather than abandoning their rushing attack in the face of adversity, Oakland must rely on Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew to extend drives, control the clock and make Manning a spectator.

Whether it's a fumble at a key moment, a bad interception, a missed tackle, stupid penalties for taunting, or dropping what is a sure interception, the Raiders absolutely must avoid making ill-timed and costly mistakes. They have mastered the art of beating themselves with stupid mistakes through the first half of the season, and if they hope to salvage some respectability in the second half, they will need to learn to play smarter.

The Raiders have been getting thrashed in the battle for time of possession week in and week out. Their opponents routinely hold the ball far longer than they do. If they hope to start winning, this is a stat that has to change immediately. They must extend drives, eat the clock, and keep the ball out of the opposition's hands. Conversely, the defense must get themselves off the field by stopping the offense, especially on third downs.

Oakland has gotten thoroughly outcoached in every game this season. Whether it's DC Jason Tarver calling throttling back the defense and just not being aggressive enough, or OC Greg Olson going way to conservative with his offensive play calling, the Raiders have looked flat-footed and ill-equipped in far too many games this season. The coaching staff must call a better game and put their team in a position to succeed.